H.B. 256

VETOES

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Financial Institutions

13-234.3.

(d) (1) The Authority may execute and perform bid, performance, and payment
bonds as a surety for the benefit of a principal in connection with any contract, the
majority of the funding for which is provided by the federal government or a state
government, a local government, or a utility regulated by the Public Service Commission.

(2)     The bonds:

(i) May not exceed [$250,000] $750,000 each; and

(ii) Shall be subject to the approval of the Authority, based on the
bond worthiness of the principal as determined by the Authority on review of an
application.

(3)     The monetary limit in this subsection does not apply if the sources of
funding for the bonds are grants.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1995.

May 24, 1995

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 256.

This bill establishes a certification program administered by the Board of Optometry for
"therapeutically certified optometrists" (TCO). A certified TCO is authorized to
administer and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and remove superficial
foreign bodies from the eye. The bill requires additional continuing education
requirements for TCOs, allows certified TCOs to use the title of "therapeutically certified
optometrist" and specifies that certified TCOs are held to the same standard of care
applied to a licensed physician who provides similar services. The bill also defines a
"diagnostically certified optometrist" (DCO) and specifies that the board must keep a
current list showing all certified DCOs and TCOs. It alters the definition of "practice
optometry" to include the visual system.

Senate Bill 454, which was passed by the General Assembly and will be signed by me on
May 25, 1995, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to
sign House Bill 256.

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